Grimoire x Reverse ~Reincarnated Demon Romance Tale~ Volume 3 Chapter 19

Volume 3 Chapter 19

The Holy Capitol City Eden I [Magical Girl Desiree]

{Shuten POV}

Half a day after we split up from Crane and his friends.

It would have been nice to tour around Merrick, but it seems that Desiree had recently left the city already. I noticed soon after looking around the shrine in the city, but Hiragi hadn't caught up with me yet. Oh, maybe I could read the books in the inn while I wait.

"That kind of- Notice these things more quickly!!" (Hiragi)

"Do not get angry." (Shuten)

"I am already angry!! I searched absolutely everywhere including the shrine and the market street! Why are you here calmly sipping tea!?" (Hiragi)

"No, well, because when I noticed, he was not in the shrine, so I decided to just wait here with a book until you finished whatever business you had." (Shuten)

"I even went as far as the outskirts, you bratty demon!!" (Hiragi)

Even after walking together for awhile Hiragi who was next to me was still fuming.

After leaving Merrick, we were walking along the road to the Holy Capitol Eden. Since the two main strongholds are in the north in Tunto and the Port of Narcissus, security around here is loose. There is the possibility that I may be arrested at a checkpoint since I am a demon, but I am not too worried considering how soon the Demon King's Army will be invading.

"……So where is the Demon King's Army invading from in the Professor Country?" (Shuten)

"Huh, why should I investigate unrelated humans?" (Hiragi)

"Human…unrelated humans, huh." (Shuten)

"What?" (Hiragi)

"No, nothing." (Shuten)

"But that doesn't change the fact that this road through the Professor Country hasn't changed. I feel like we have been walking through the forest forever." (Hiragi)

"Unlike in the Princ.i.p.ality and the Empire, it is not maintained. It is also through the mountains so it cannot be helped." (Shuten)

"The Republic isn't around anymore so we can't compare, but I had heard that the roads in the Kingdom also weren't well taken care of." (Hiragi)

"Why…Oh, because of the Magic Train?" (Shuten)

"It's easier and safer to travel by the Magic Train, so the road has a lot of monsters and has been neglected." (Hiragi)

As we chatted, the time on the road pa.s.sed surprisingly quickly.

For an ordinary person, it would take three days of walking, but a demon or group of demons could probably arrive in Eden in less than a day. No, if we sprinted, we could probably arrive even sooner, but walking quickly like this is fast enough for me. I usually enjoy travelling leisurely, though I do appreciate the option to go faster as a demon.

The average human would probably think different than me though. Well, most people who meet me say I'm strange after all.

We chatted like this while walking leisurely. What a strange journey.

However, the "Festival of Slaughter" is waiting at Eden, the Holy Capitol of the Professor Country.

"The Demon King's [Invasion Festival of the capitol city Eden]…that flyer, it would be great of Yatano could have seen it." (Shuten)

…Even though her seeing the flyer probably wouldn't change anything.

“What is this Demon King's Invasion Festival? It sounds serious." (Hiragi)

Led by Braument of "Reason" and Reckless of "Balance." Although in-game you did not engage with Reckless, there was no guarantee it would be the same now that Veloce has joined in.

Regardless, we should do what we need to here and then head towards the Holy Capitol. If they destroy the capitol here, I do not know if Crane will be able to defeat the Demon King in the future.

What happens if the Demon King does not die? It's simple.

The desire of the Demon King is to overthrow and destroy the world of humans. If the Demon King is summoned into the human world he would trample everything in his conquest. However, he will first enslave the humans rather than completely destroy them. He would then establish a 'glorious' society for demons where humans become livestock for the Demon King's Army. That is the future painted by the Demon King.

However, in the end the Demon King would eventually get bored and completely destroy the world anyway.

The reason why I know about this is because the Demon King eventually appears in Grimoire Lancer II and starts to create such a situation.

Therefore, the Demon King's ambition must be stopped. But, only Crane can stop him and be victorious. Until now I was optimistic because things seemed to be going according to the plot, but now I don't know what will happen.

“Should I just have ignored what was going on?" (Shuten)

"Is something bothering you?" (Hiragi)

"No, well….various things." (Shuten)

So, returning to the first question, where will the Demon King's Army invade from?…The Port of Narcissus and Tunto are active cities in the northeast, so shouldn't their information network notice if the army comes from there? The Holy Capitol Eden is a large city that is the western edge of the Country and sprawls towards the south, so they would have to come by water from the west or south. However, the Demon King's Navy is terrible.

I hope that Eden is safe until we arrive, but for now I am wandering around, thinking. What should I do if Veloce partic.i.p.ates in the battle? I am not sure that I can win against that person.

"Even if it isn't certain, we still have do something against Veloche…right?" (Shuten)

"Rather, wouldn't it better to confirm if she's even there? Yatano isn't here after all. Honestly, right now I'm wondering about how the leaders of the Demon King's Army could be defeated." (Hiragi)[1]

It would be easier if Veloce didn't want to fight, but reality is not so kind. Maybe the Demon King's Army will retreat if Braument and Reckless are defeated.

I wonder, could the Kamiko of Light absorb the Pearl Pieces?

Desiree had absorbed a pearl piece. He had not only survived, but now he was powered up.

I had thought that the soul of a human being couldn't absorb it in the first place…but that doesn't change the fact he had taken it in and survived.

"No, I don't think it is worth the risk." (Shuten)

"What are you talking about?" (Hiragi)

"Just rambling." (Shuten)

"By the way, do you think they are in Eden by now?" (Hiragi)

"Hm, probably." (Shuten)

I needed to catch Braument. He clearly had a power-up that was very similar to taking in a Pearl Piece, which makes things more complicated. Yet, why is the G.o.ddess' sensor not reacting even though it is so similar? If it was because it was a Pearl Piece I knew of, then there was only one person I had given one to, and that was the vampire girl Flare Reel…but if that is the case, then I will slaughter him. I am hoping that other possibilities exist.

Maybe, it is grasping the location of a fake pearl piece. It's kind of fun to think there are decoys among the fragments that need to be collected. Either way, going to Eden and executing Braument are my current goals.

"Oh, there's Eden." (Shuten)

It gives off a pure-white feeling that give off an impression that "this town in sacred!"

I found a good spot to look down mountain road that leads to the city. We should be able to reach it by the end of the day once the sun has set.

It's a city that was formed around a white tower as if drawing a circle around a circle. There are two outer circular walls and an inner citadel. Furthermore, it looks like a moat is being maintained, so the defense was quite good.

…I wonder if there are some guards watching the mountain path from above, where more of the landscape can be seen.

The Holy Capitol City Eden…It is a religious place, not to mention part of the Professor Country, which adheres to the wisdom of G.o.d. Even the four priests who are considered to be the closest to G.o.d have a large influence in political affairs.

Since the Child of the G.o.d of Light who is said to be a savior had appeared in the Professor Country, they had raised him carefully as one of their strengths. It seems that they had let him "go on a journey" only due to the imminent revival of the Demon King.

Even so, it is the starter city. The city that you visit first in Grimoire Lancer II. I mean, the starting point. There is something that is very emotional. It would be a sacred place for the people of the teaching country, but it is also a sacred place for me.

"Let's have a picnic here!" (Shuten)

"Not going to happen." (Hiragi)

"I know…" (Shuten)

How unnecessarily realistic.

“Looking around, there is nothing around Eden.” (Hiragi)

"Do you mean how it's surrounded by plains?" (Shuten)

“Uh, yeah. Couldn't they have chosen a better location?" (Hiragi)

"That is, this mountain range where we are now…happens to be on the east side and stretches northward, making a good boundary, right?"

"I see."

This mountain path is where we walked from Merrick. Although the road is connected to the east, it is easier to understand when it is said that the eastern edge of Eden is the mountain range that stretches to the North.

“From here, there is a highway on the other side of Eden that leads to a western port called Alicanta. Aside from that, after going south through the Plains of Vitality there is a big lake. As such anyone coming from there would need to cross a wide river at least to get to Eden."

"…Is that so?" (Hiragi)

"As such, not only does it have natural defenses, It seems that this is best location for a place with strong religious beliefs." (Shuten)

"Hmm." (Hiragi)

Oh, I wonder if she is interested in this.

“Because there is a mountain range to the east, a huge plain to the north, the ocean to the west, a wide river in the south, and the Holy Capital City Eden located in the center, the spiritual power should be great.[2] Demons that are weak to the sun will quickly become damaged in the plains, and even those that are strong enough to overcome the light of day will be weakened enough to take greater damage from weapons wielded by humans, who have increased spiritual power. So, it could not be attacked…until now." (Shuten)

"Why now?" (Hiragi)

“That is because of the absence of the Kamiko of Light. After this is simply a situation where where the Demon King's Army might have to get a little more serious." (Shuten)

"…What?" (Hiragi)

"Well, even I do not fully understand their logic." (Shuten)

Eden must be happy that the Kamiko of Light had returned. The majority of the demon groups with the strength of a Demon Lord had not yet arrived. However, one of the Four Heavenly Demon Lords had become much stronger, and there was a human like Veloce who was here for her own reasons.

"Um, are we leaving soon?" (Hiragi)

"Yeah." (Shuten)

We said goodbye to the scenery of Eden after watching for awhile.  

……

……

Huh.

h.e.l.lo Magic Librarian.

"There was information that you were traveling from Merrick, so wouldn't you definitely travel along the road connecting Eden and Merrick?" (Desiree)

When I tried to get back on the road, that familiar black coat appeared in front of me. A man wearing a monocle and slicked back blue hair.

"Ohh~ Desiree-kun!! Long time no see~! I'm doing well~! Has it really been this long!? These days I am a consultant for the Kamiko of Light~!" (Shuten)

“What's with that [email protected]#%# greeting?!" (Desiree)

"It's how you greet an old cla.s.smate after not seeing each other for years." (Shuten)

"Hahaha!! Is that so!? Wait, Kamiko of Light!?!" (Desiree)

"Oh yeah, you seem to have found a companion on your journey, a little girl you kidnapped." (Shuten)

"…that girl, I don't know how she……I do not remember being a kidnapper!!" (Desiree)

….Desiree McRein.

Thanks for coming out to meet me halfway.

"Hiragi, get back."

“But-"

"Right now you are not strong enough. You will be much stronger after we level a lot later!" (Shuten)

"Um, that's not it." (Hiragi)

Motioning Hiragi to stay behind me, I quickly draw the Demon Slayer from my back. Desiree was already in his battle stance after cursing at my greeting.

He had become even more monstrously powerful than he originally was after getting a boost.

But what's up with Hiragi?

"Um, isn't he one of the ten specialists of the Imperial Academy-" Hiragi said with a strange expression, while pointing towards Desiree with pale, trembling fingers.

Desiree snorted in disdain and swung his blade proudly. “Yes, I am one of the top ten in the Empire's Imperial Academy-"

"You're a Magical Girl!" (Hiragi) [3]

"Magical librarian!!" (Desiree)

"Pft" (Shuten)

So that's what she had learned at Narcissus Port!

Hahaha!! I suddenly felt a warmth in my chest.

"Hey….#@%#$^#& Oni" (Desiree)

"What's wrong, Magical Girl Desiree?" (Shuten)

"Everything that comes out of this [email protected][email protected]#^ mouth…!" (Desiree)”

–Divine Phenomenon Phase Skill [Ancient Refining Forge Blade Sharpening] —

I cannot quite see the expression in his downcast eyes, but I can see his cheek twitching, and bunch of protruding blood vessels on his forehead. Yeah, he seems to be severely provoked!

“Hey Monocle-Baldy, are you getting stronger?" (Shuten)

"Haha…Who do you think I am? Researchers do not study only fragments of rocks, but other things…! That 'pearl piece' has far more value than a monster like you realizes, so die! Die, die, and pa.s.s it over, #@%#$^#& Oni!!" (Desiree)

"How dare you say that!!!! Apologize to all the Magical Girls in the universe you blasphemer!" (Shuten)

“This [email protected]#^ just does whatever he wants!" (Desiree)

I raised my large axe and leapt forward towards battle with his Naginata.

Haiwa!! This time I will kill that maniac Monocle Baldy!!

Desiree of the Magic Librarians appeared! ▼

Translator Notes

「ヴェローチェにさえ相対しなければ何とかなる……ってことね？」 This seems to have something to do with lore of 4 guardian beasts (s.h.i.+jin) represented by each of the Cardinal Directions (green/blue Dragon for the East, red Phoenix for the South, white Tiger for the West, black Tortoise for the North) considering Shuten is connecting the landscape to religion. Honestly, I just wish I had a map of this world at this point. I'll probably go back and make sure I have everything lining up correctly. If you don't know what a "Magical Girl" is, then I recommend looking up series like Sailor Moon, Pretty Cure, Tokyo Mew Mew, etc. It's a fantasy genre that tends to be very frilly and cheerful, even girlish you might say. Now imagine Desiree in one of their frilly dresses.